Oxfam America congratulates Al Gore and IPCC for Nobel Peace Prize

BOSTON — In reaction to the announcement that former Vice President Al Gore and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize today, Raymond C. Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America, made the following statement:

“Oxfam extends our most heartfelt congratulations to Vice President Al Gore and the members of the IPCC, recognized by the Nobel Foundation for their work in raising the consciousness of millions of people about the impact of climate change around the world.

“Climate change is one of the greatest moral and ethical dilemmas ever faced by human kind. The world’s poorest people are already among the hardest hit by the impacts of global warming, with increasingly dangerous consequences for millions of people should the international community fail to act.

“Oxfam hopes that this recognition will reinforce the urgency of international action on climate change ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali. World leaders need to muster the political will to reduce global warming emissions through mandatory international targets and assist the most vulnerable communities adapt to climate impacts.

“Al Gore’s tireless efforts have especially made climate change undeniable, propelling the topic to the top of the international agenda where it belongs. Oxfam applauds the recognition of this great American leader and hopes that others in leadership positions, especially in the United States, will find the courage and conviction to follow his example.”